Beltran set to play in extended spring game

NEW YORK -- The Yankees may have some help on the way for their sluggish offense. Carlos Beltran is traveling to Tampa, Fla., and has been scheduled to play in an extended spring training game on Monday, the team announced.

Beltran, 37, has not played since May 12 due to a bone spur in his right elbow that was treated with two cortisone injections. He has been taking batting practice at Yankee Stadium for several days and did not report discomfort after a hitting session on Sunday.

"We'll just go day by day to see where he's at and how his at-bats are, and when they deem that he's ready, we'll have him back," manager Joe Girardi said. "I don't imagine that it's going to be real, real long. I would hope that we'll see him fairly soon here."

If all goes as expected, Beltran could rejoin the Yankees later this week in time for a 10-game road trip that begins on Friday in Kansas City. Girardi said that the Yankees sent Beltran to their complex in Florida, rather than on a Minor League rehab assignment to Double-A or Triple-A, because of scheduling issues with the team's top farm clubs.

"Extended spring is real game action," Girardi said. "It's a guy with a baseball on the mound and guys behind him. ... The other thing is you can get him more at-bats at a quicker pace."